DELCO boy beaten to death with belts; uncle charged with murder (Video)

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A 6-year-old Nether Providence boy is dead, allegedly at the hands of his uncle, a fourth degree black belt in karate.

Paul M. Adams Jr. allegedly confessed to brutally beating of Tyreece Charlow with belts for 45 minutes late Thursday, telling investigators his only regret was that he drew blood.

“The abuse he did to this child is unforgivable,” Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said, during an afternoon press conference at county detectives headquarters. Whelan added that Assistant Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Bennett Preston, a veteran forensic pathologist, called the boy’s injuries “the worst case of child abuse he’s ever seen.”

“We also believe this went beyond a belt beating, that this uncle used his hands and feet to kill this child,” he added.

Whelan said the autopsy showed some evidence of prior abuse.

He also noted that Delaware County Children and Youth Services had been involved with the boy at some point in the past, but it was unclear if that was when the child was living with his uncle.

Charlow’s only other known relatives are his mother and grandmother, neither of whom could be reached. It also was unclear why the boy was living with his mother’s brother, as no formal court order had been in place.

In his press conference announcing the charges, Whelan referred to Adams as Charlow’s custodian.

Adams, 38, is being held in Delaware County Prison without bail for first-degree murder. Investigators said he told investigators he had held the child’s hands down during the vicious beating — punishment for the boy’s failure to pick out an outfit for school the following day.

The brutal beating took place Thursday night in Adams’ home in the 200 block of Walnut Road in Wallingford, according to the affidavit of probable cause written by Nether Providence Detective Michael Erickson and County Detective Edward Kazlo.

During an interview at the hospital Friday morning, Adams, reprotedly still wearing clothing allegedly soaked with the Charlow’s blood, detailed little boy’s last hours, according to the court document.

Adams picked Charlow up at Nether Providence Elementary School around 3:30 p.m., and they walked home. After dinner, they drove to Chester to pick up their martial arts instructor, then drove to West Chester for a 7 p.m. karate class.

Since there were no children Charlow’s age, he practiced alone. They left the karate studio, arriving home around 10 p.m.

According to Adams’ account, the little boy prepared for bed, taking a shower, brushing his teeth and donning his pajamas. When he went downstairs to say his prayers, he and Adams reviewed their plans for the next day, including what clothes he would wear, the affidavit states.

Adams allegedly told investigators the child was uncooperative and “shut down,” refusing to respond to his attempts to reason with him. He gave the boy three minutes to “get things done,” the affidavit states.

Adams allegedly said he picked up a belt and struck the child several times. He then picked up a wider belt and re-set the timer, and began striking the 6-year-old with the larger belt, according to the affidavit.

“The defendant decided he wasn’t inflicting enough damage, so he went and got a wider belt,” Whelan said. Adams allegedly said he held the child’s hands together during the vicious beating which, by his account, lasted 45 minutes. He acknowledged that the little boy cried the entire time he was being “disciplined,” the affidavit states.

“His only regret was that he drew blood,” the district attorney said.

When he was finished the beating, police said Adams poured peroxide on the child’s wounds, then put him to bed naked.

When he checked on Charlow about 15 minutes later, he wasn’t moving and Adams concluded he was asleep. Several hours later, he checked on the child a second time. The little boy had “a brown liquid” coming from his mouth and was unresponsive, according to the affidavit. Adams picked the child up and drove him to the emergency room at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Charlow, a first-grade student at Nether Providence Elementary School, was pronounced dead a short time later, about 5 a.m. Friday. Dr. Preston conducted an autopsy and ruled the boy had died from multiple blunt force injuries. His death was ruled a homicide.

Whelan said that counselors were being brought in to Nether Providence Elementary School to help the victim’s classmates cope with his death.

Adams was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephanie Klein on charges of first and third-degree murder, criminal homicide and possessing instruments of crime. He is tentatively scheduled to appear before Klein for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 19.